Remembering the Josh Hamilton Era: December 7, 2006-December 7, 2006

CHICAGO–The Josh Hamilton era came to an abrupt end Thursday, when the Cubs sent the minor leaguer to the Cincinnati Reds for cash considerations. Hamilton had been selected by the Cubs from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the Rule V draft which took place earlier in the day.

Immediately after Cubs G.M. Jim Hendry finished signing Hamilton’s contract, fitting him for a jersey, and shaking his hand, he tore up the contract, took back the jersey, and told Hamilton that he had just “stinkpalmed” him.

Gone, but never forgotten.

Here are my top five moments of the Josh Hamilton era:

December 7, 2006. Cubs draft Josh Hamilton in the Rule V draft.

December 7, 2006. I plug “Josh Hamilton” into Wikipedia, getting excited as I learn that he was once a #1 draft pick (1999).

Funny how the Reds refused to do a deal with the Cubs on the likes of Griffey, Dunn and Kearns when Chicago needed to add an outfield bat. But the front office in Chicago bend over backwards to do the Reds a massive favor in selecting such a talent in the Rule V draft.

Typical bullshit move from the Cubs front office. Wouldn’t you rather have a Josh Hamilton in CF or RF than a Milton ‘clubhouse wrecker’ Bradley or a light hitting Kosuke Fukudome?

Oh well, you’ve got to love the Gorzelanny and Grabow trade. I guess they never heard of Matt Capps.